I suppose it's no secret that I'm hooked on reality TV. Right now, American Idol is feeding my addiction. Which brings me to my point, sort of. Last week Blake Lewis, you know, the guy with the duckling hair-do and pants that don't fit, broke the rules.
After a heart-rending but poorly received rendition of When the Stars Go Blue the previous week, Blake had some ground to make up. Bon Jovi was the new "mentor". Here's what Bon Jovi had to say about Blake's decision to use his own arrangement of You Give Love a Bad Name. "This is a song a lot of people know, and they don't want it messed with. Are you sure you want to roll the dice like this?"
Blake replies, "Oh, yeah."
And right there, I could see that Blake had reached a turning point. He knew he might be going home and he decided to trust his own voice. He messed with the Bon Jovi song. He pantomimed, he beat boxed (is that what you call it?), he turned his voice into a computer, he sang his heart out, and he rocked the house. He made it into the final four. Go Blake!
What does this have to do with writing? Everything.
After a heart-rending but poorly received rendition of When the Stars Go Blue the previous week, Blake had some ground to make up. Bon Jovi was the new "mentor". Here's what Bon Jovi had to say about Blake's decision to use his own arrangement of You Give Love a Bad Name. "This is a song a lot of people know, and they don't want it messed with. Are you sure you want to roll the dice like this?"
Blake replies, "Oh, yeah."
And right there, I could see that Blake had reached a turning point. He knew he might be going home and he decided to trust his own voice. He messed with the Bon Jovi song. He pantomimed, he beat boxed (is that what you call it?), he turned his voice into a computer, he sang his heart out, and he rocked the house. He made it into the final four. Go Blake!
What does this have to do with writing? Everything.
14 comments:
Yep. I think this is what they mean when they say "write the book of your heart" and what Joseph Campbell was talking about with "Follow your bliss." People respond well when you put your all into something worth believing in.
Alice
I looooooooove Blake! Liked him better with light hair, though. It's one in the morning. I don't really do deep thinking after midnight.
:) Love the title of your post. I will come to you to get my rainbows braided every time. :)
I take it this mean you dismissed CM's macrame suggestion?
You're right - you have to trust your own voice.
Yep. . . especially when everything is at stake (i.e., publication) -- because if you don't love it. . .no one else will!
Ha! Ericka, we must've been blog crossing. I was just leaving a comment for you, that video is awesome! Everyone, go check out Ericka's blog and movie, quick!
Yes, Sara, I too am a Blaker girl. But I'm digging the dark hair.
Alice, I agree. What point is there in writing something that doesn't move you?
CM and Tessa-still laughing over the macrame, but gosh, looks like I'll be braiding for a while longer.
Does that mean go with your gut? Is your gut ever wrong?
Hey Bev! Well of course my gut can be wrong. Plenty of times. But so is the other choice, just as often.
If I'm gonna fail, I'd like to fail honestly, not imitating someone else. Of course, I'm not suggesting that you shouldn't listen to constructive feedback and learn from others. Nor am I suggesting breaking the rules for the sake of doing so. I only mean, don't be afraid.
Hey :) Just coming off a family vacation, so had to put on my writer persona.
I write because it's my very favorite thing to do, and the stories float around unchecked in my head whether I write them down or not. Considering how long it takes an "average" person to publish, by God, you had better be passionate and enjoying the blue blazes out of everything you write down. Otherwise you've moved back into the realm of the "job." :)
Gillian
You got it, Blake broke all the rules and he did it awesomely.
I planned on blogging about breaking some of those rules later in the week or next.
Christina
Amen, India!! (that sounded like a prayer and a revival to me *grins*)
Christina, Chris and Beth, thanks for chiming in. Seems like everyone who's commented agrees--one should write the "book of his heart". But it may be a tough sell. It's risky. Hopefully, it pays off in the end.
I can't get American Idol in China. Argh!!! It's my favorite. Blake sounds fun. My first romance novel was "the book of my heart" and it flowed out so fast because I wasn't worried about technique or audience. Unfortunately, it sucks as a result. So now I'm writing "the book that could sell, but that trickles out slower than molasses."
Lenora, why not revise the book of your heart after you finish your next one? I bet it'll be wonderful.
As for American Idol--First time ever my two favorites are in the finale. What to do- like choosing between a contemporary and a regency-I love them both. Of course I don't actually vote, so I'm able to dodge the pesky issue of choosing all together!
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